Head Start employees will not be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine to keep their job, according to a federal court ruling Saturday.
A federal district court handed a victory to the 24 states who sued over the requirement that Head Start employees get a COVID-19 vaccine. Judge Terry Doughty said the move by President Joe Biden unlawfully bypassed the powers of Congress.
The rule required universal masking for Head Start children 2 years old and older, and it mandated that all staffers, contractors, and volunteers be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 31.
Head Start includes preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-old children, while Early Head Start programs are for infants, toddlers, and pregnant women to “promote the school readiness of children ages birth to 5 from low-income families by supporting their development in a comprehensive way,” according to its website.
